As the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar approaches, PHIL ROBINSON looks back on the remarkable life of the local woman who was the famous lover of its victor, Horatio Nelson

MOST historic sources hold that Emma Hamilton, mistress of Lord Nelson, was born in the village of Ness in 1765.

But there is some disagreement over the actual place of her birth.

Some say the girl destined to be one of England's most famous 'other women' first saw the light of day at Swan Cottage.

But there are strong feelings in the area that the imposing three-storey property, which stands to this day, could not have been her birthplace.

The belief is that it would have been much too 'posh' for her father - the village blacksmith - to have lived in. A much more likely dwelling for Emma and her family would have been some crude hut.

Emma was born Emily (or Amy) Lyon on April 26, 1765, and baptised in Neston Church on May 12 - six weeks before her father died.

This left her mother, a servant girl called Mary Lyon, to support herself and the new baby.

To do this in a more familiar environment, she took herself and little Emy, as she was also known, back to live with her own mother, Mrs Kidd, in her native Hawarden.

There she was brought up until her early teens, when she went to London. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman and her stunning looks quickly won her fame.

She became a celebrated model for painters such as George Romney, who did numerous portraits of her.

Emily Hart, as she was by now calling herself, became mistress to Sir Harry Featherstonhough and later Charles Greville.

Greville was a nephew of Sir William Hamilton, British Ambassador to Naples, a wealthy widower, scholar and antiquarist. Greville asked his uncle to take Emma, as she now was.

Aged 60, Sir William agreed that Emma should join him in Naples, where she arrived early in 1786.

Their relationship developed and, in 1791, they were married.

In September 1793, Emma met the dashing Captain Horatio Nelson when he visited Naples.

In 1798, after his great victory at the Battle of the Nile, Nelson took his squadron to the harbour at Naples. He was feted by the populace, including Emma.

By December 1798, with invasion imminent, the Neapolitan royal family, the Hamiltons and a host of other residents were evacuated by Nelson to Polermo in Sicily.

The following year, Nelson was able to return to Naples. With him went Sir William and Emma.

Nelson and Emma are thought to have become lovers in 1799. Nelson's marriage to his wife, Frances, was over by 1801 - the same year Emma gave birth to the naval hero's child, Horatia.

Following his victory at the Battle of Copenhagen, Nelson was put in charge of Channel defences. He was able to spend time with Emma in Kent and tasked her with finding him a 'little farm' outside London.

By October 1801, she had bought Merton Place, Surrey, and moved in with Sir William. Nelson joined them and he, Emma and Sir William lived as a menage a trois until the older man's death in 1803.

With the recommencement of war with France, Nelson took up his position as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. Emma was by now expecting another child, to whom she gave birth at Christmas 1803.

Named Emma, the infant did not survive long.

On September 13, 1805, Nelson left Merton to rejoin the fleet. In his diary, he wrote: 'At half past ten drove from dear, dear, Merton where I left all which I hold dear in this world.'

On October 19, Nelson wrote his last letter to Emma. It was only delivered to her after his death.

He wrote: 'My dearest beloved Emma, the dear friend of my bosom ... I will take care that my name shall ever be most dear to you and Horatia, both of whom I love as much as my own life.'

Two days later, Nelson wrote a codicil to his will, in which he stated: 'I leave Emma, Lady Hamilton therefore a Legacy to my King and Country that they will give her an ample provision to maintain her Rank in Life.'

Lady Hamilton had been bequeathed to the nation.

That day, Nelson was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar.

A Mr Whitby from the Admiralty brought to Emma the news of Nelson's death. She screamed and fainted.

When she came round, she was unable to speak or even cry. She sat silent and withdrawn for almost 10 hours.

In Nelson's will, Emma was left Merton and its contents, a cash sum of £2,000 and £500 a year for life.

In the following few years, Emma continued to keep open house to any professed friend or acquaintance of Nelson. Many took her hospitality and gave nothing.

She unsuccessfully continued to pursue a state pension but, by 1808, Emma was bankrupt. A meeting of some friends was held to consider her case, as a result of which Merton was assigned to creditors.

In the summer of 1813, Emma was arrested for debt and consigned to the Kings Bench prison, where she remained for a year.

In 1814, two old friends negotiated a temporary release and Emma took advantage of this to flee to France. She and Horatia boarded the channel packet at Tower Bridge and landed at Calais.

Emma health's deteriorated and she relied progressively on alcohol. When she died on January 15, 1815, she was buried in Calais in the graveyard of the Eglise de St Pierre.

Horatia, just 14 years old, returned to England and lived under the care of Nelson's sister, Catherine.

In 1995, a monument was erected to commemorate the life of Emma in the Parc Riche-lieu, Calais, close to where she was buried.